News - Blues Secure Toropchenko with Crucial Two-Year Contract

In a strategic move, the St. Louis Blues have secured their physical winger Alexey Toropchenko with a two-year contract extension, ensuring he stays with the team through 2028. This decision prevents Toropchenko, who was approaching unrestricted free agency next summer, from entering the open market and rewards him with a significant pay raise from his current one-year, $1.7 million cap hit. At 26, Toropchenko has become an essential part of the team’s framework, particularly in defensive setups, while his offensive skills present potential yet to be fully realized. Drafted in the fourth round by the Blues in 2017, Toropchenko has gained recognition for his size and aggressive playing style. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 225 pounds, his presence has solidified the Blues’ bottom-six lineup, especially after securing a full 82-game roster spot in the 2023-24 season. Unfortunately, injuries have hindered his ability to consistently replicate that success, yet his defensive contributions remain valuable. Known for his physical dominance, Toropchenko ranked among the league leaders in hits last season, showing his commitment to physical play with 223 registered hits. Although his offensive output has declined recently — highlighted by a mere 5.1% shooting success and only six goals over 107 games since last season’s start — his skills, when optimized, add depth to the Blues’ attacking options. His career highlights include surpassing the double-digit goal mark in previous seasons, but his current offensive stats indicate room for improvement. Toropchenko's enhanced role within the team is reflected in the new contract, which emphasizes his growing responsibilities. He is a key part of the Blues’ penalty-kill units and has utilized additional playing time during injuries to teammates Nick Bjugstad, Dylan Holloway, and Nathan Walker. Despite missing over ten games this year due to various injuries, his consistent performance with five points and 27 shots in 27 appearances underscores his adaptability and significance. This extension makes Toropchenko the ninth Blues forward secured for the 2026-27 season on a one-way contract. Meanwhile, the organization faces crucial decisions with upcoming free agents, including RFAs such as Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, and Jonatan Berggren, and UFAs Mathieu Joseph and Oskar Sundqvist. With over $24 million in available cap space, according to PuckPedia, St. Louis is well-positioned to manage these contracts and further strengthen its roster.